Watercraft



May 29, 1945.

J. GOLDEN WATERCRAFT' Filed April 27 ATTORNEY Patented May 29, 1945 NsrrA-'rss PATENT ori-ics *""1 *2.377,143 f 'WATERCRAFT JohnVLGoldem Stamfordgonn; Appneanennprilrzv, 1942, seialNol 440,613

, zeclaimsr. (el. 114-675 p IGumay-fbe. providedbetweenthe'rellers-IB-and This invention: relates to watercraft: and? has for its majorfobjectj the provision ofmeans! for overcoming;the/resistance to movement ofi' said craftrthroughvthezwater: l I f Another tobject; of?v the inventionis to provide ai surface on 'thewaters fortifier-watercraft: where'- by:4 said craft: is driven orY causedtofrride onfsaid surface. I

Aafurther object: is to provide means in the form of an endless surface which is unfolded progressively and over which the craft progresses overcoming water resistance and lthus yielding increasedspeed with the use of less power.

Other features of the invention are to provide novel propulsion means and novel steering and elevating means to assist the craft in the movement through and over the water.

The foregoing objects and features and others which will become hereinafter apparent are realized in the structure shown in the accompanying drawing which is described in detail in the following specification. The illustrated form of the invention is intended as exemplary only7 of the invention which may be incorporated in various other ways.

. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a watercraft incorporating features of the invention.`

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view as taken in the planes of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

t4 to` formgsupports tocarry the'fweigght ,ofY the craft; on the-lower run ofthe beltHIS. `Still Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail rear View of novel elevator means.

v provided'with lateral depending skirt portions I0 enclosing a chassis It which may be formed of angle members I2. Each of these members extend for an appreciable length along the sides of the craft as best seen in Fig. 1.

At each end of the chassis II is. arranged a free running roller I3 and I4 respectively fore and aft, and about these rollers is trained a member in the form of a belt l5. Smaller rollers smaller krollers IZ'I are: used" to support.` andI prevent sagging of the upper runlofl saidfbelt. As can; be understood;` all` of` therollers 1 are mounted (incanti-friction; bearings; vas shown atzzl;

' .'llhenbelt. I 5: is;.,preferably. made the., full Ywidth of the craft (Fig. 2). In this instance, it is shown as extending from side to side of the craft between the chassis angles I2. Anti-slip means may be provided on the belt as by fastening transversely disposed ns or vanes such as the angles I9 on said belt.

Rollers I3, I4 and I6 are all free and allow the surface of the belt to be freely applied to the surface of the water.

Means may be provided to take up slack on the belt I5 to maintain the bottom run thereof taut. To this end, means such as the screw 29 may be arranged to adjust the position of the bearings of one of the rollers such as the aft roller I4.

It should be evident from the foregoing that, as the belt is free to move, the craft moves thereover in the manner of a surface vehicle, the craft, in effect laying its own smooth roadway, the principles involved being based on the reluctance of a large flat surface, sinking when it is dropped dat on the surface of the water. Thus the craft tends to plane and increased buoyancy is imparted to the craft which rides along upon its flat surfaced belt. The ns or cleats I9 prevent slipping of the belt on the surface of the Water, and hold the belt on the water as the craft passes over, as can be understood. The dot and dash line W shown on Figs. 1 and 2 indicates the waterline when the boat is moving at its maximum speed.

The craft is propelled by propeller 2|, which, as shdwn, comprises a plurality of helices 22 enclosed in a horizontal circular housing 23. The helices may be quite long, as seen in Fig. 1. This propeller may be driven by a shaft 22a from the mentioned power plant and is quite efficient because of its structure.

The rudder 24, placed at the frcntin this instance, may be combined with an elevator 25 and carried by a post 26 journalled in a tilting member 38 which has horizontal trunnions 4I journalled in supports 40. The member 38 is provided with a counterbore 39 toaccommodate the enlarged shouldered portion 31 of the post 26, the upper end of which carries the ti11er'42.

It will thus be seen that the post 26 is adapted to be both oscillated in a horizontal plane and tilted transversely, as indicated by the arrows 21 and 28. This elevator is utilized to raise the crafts prow during its initial movement, serving to hydroplane the craft out of the water, as can be understood.

In order to aid steering the craft at high speeds normally retracted baiiles 30 may be provided; said baffles may be placed at the sides of the hull near the stern. When it is desired to turn to the right, the right or starboard baille is dropped to the position shown by the dot-dash lines (Fig. 1). Left steering is obtained by dropping the left or port baille.

While the rudder and elevators have been shown as located at the front of the craft and the propeller at the stern, it will be obvious that in various other ways without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A watercraft comprising a hull, an endless free moving belt carried beneath said hull, a propeller, and combined rudder and elevator means located at the front of the craft and connected to a tiller, whereby said craft is propelled substantially on the surface of a liquid medium, said combined rudder-.and elevator means being carried on a shaft which is universally mounted so that the tiller may serve to move the rudder and the elevator simultaneously.

2. A watercraft comprising a hull, a chassis carried beneath said hull, a plurality of free running support members mounted on said chassis, an endless belt supported by said support members, a plurality of anti-slip members on said belt, and a propeller extending below the anti-slip members on the belt and a combined rudder and elevator means located at the front of the craft said means comprising a post carrying on its lower end said rudder elevator, and on its upper end a. tiller, said post being universally mounted intermediate its ends so that the tiller may serve to move the rudder and the elevator whereby the craft is steered and guided toward the surface of the water.

JOHN V. GOLDEN. 

